Frank Adler - Macalester College, St. Paul, MN

Professor: Frank Adler

Department: Political Science

College: Macalester College, St. Paul, MN

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POLI140
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Professor Adler is incredible. His class is taught without a textbook, but the readings he gives are essential to getting a good grade. He's a brutal grader, but that's exactly what political science students need. I'd take every class that I could from him.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: 160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Frank Adler is undoubtedly a knowledgeable man and an educator that heavily rewards improvement. That all falls short however, due to the lack of helpful comments on papers and the mans overwhelming love for himself. If he doesn't like your writing style, there's next to nothing you can do since he won't tell you how to improve it.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POLI160
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Adler only wants you to regurgitate his words in your essays. Don't bother thinking for yourself, as you will not be rewarded for it. He does not give clear answers to questions in class, so go to his office hours if you need help. His condescending comments never stop, so get ready to be put down during every class period.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: FOUNDATIONS
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Wonderful professor. Definitely one of the best at Mac. Some love him and some hate him, but if you give him a chance and put in an honest effort, you'll learn a lot. Very knowledgable and has a great sense of humor.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POLI160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He's a great professor! I will never think of Plato's Republic in the same way again!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POLI240
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Regurgitation necessary for approval. At least you know what he wants!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POLI120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I enjoy Frank Adler's unique teaching methods. He is extremely knowledgeable.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POLI160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

The key to success with Adler is to write down everything he says in lectures and spit it back out on the papers. He can be intimidating in class and never learns students' names, but one-on-one he is more willing to help. His classes are hard but worth it. Takes great pride in the fact that he spent a semester abroad at London School of Economics.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: FPT160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Lectures all class and doesn't like questions. Funny but also a bit boring. Lectures on exactly what he wants you to write about so reading the books isn't really necessary. Medium difficulty grader and is picky over grammar use. Not a fun class at all but not terrible either

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POLI260
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He is who he is. Frank is incredibly smart. His humor is dry and he can be frustrating but I warmed up to him over time. None of his classes are easy but you will learn the subject if you try. He is passionate about it. He likes to argue but make sure you have thoroughly supported your thesis or he will pick you apart. It can be fun!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: POLI160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Only wants students to agree with him. Chooses favorites based on the first paper. Expectations are never clear. Reading load is unrealistic. But that's fine because there is no reason to do it or think for yourself. In fact your grade will suffer if you do. He'll tell you what to write about during the lecture.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POLI160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Really great professor

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POLI160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Condescending- speaks to the class as though he's expecting to fail everyone. Lectures are informative but the most fun when he goes on tangents. Essay prompts are vague and expects regurgitation without much creativity.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POLI160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

You either love him or you hate him. The most knowledgeable, intelligent professor I've had. His abrasive condescending comments can be viewed as "classic Frank."

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POLI260
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

contemporary political theory. professor adler's lectures really elucidated the readings, many of which were confusing at times (especially habermas). i really enjoyed this class, and the final presentation/project was interesting to work on because we got to choose our own topic; it was also interesting to see what other people worked on for their

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POLI140
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Doesn't care much about his students.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POLI160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He's so great!!!! I loved him.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: POLI140
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Adler is incredibly smart but lectures all hour about difficult to grasp concepts with no visual, and doesn't respond to questions well. he reads from notes he has clearly used for decades. if i could pay attention i'm sure he has very useful things to say. not recommended unless you have tons of patience or are interest in oddities of politics

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: POLI160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Adler is an incredibly smart man who cares about his subject matter, and is surprisingly approachable outside the classroom. However, you will be a little lost on his papers. His expectations are unclear and he sometimes wants nothing more than regurgitation. Also, the reading load got excessive as he tried to finish the syllabus before finals.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POLI140
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

In a class of 15, you think he would take the time to learn people's names. The class was useless, and disappointing for a foundational course on such an interesting subject.